Divorce is among the most difficult experiences in a person’s life. There is often significant hurt and uncertainty as spouses move through the divorce process. Increasingly, divorcing couples are turning to mediation in hopes of resolving issues surrounding divorce,...
Focusing On Family Law – And You
Divorce
What do you need to know about “community property”?
If you are beginning to consider a divorce in California, you may not realize that our state follows a property division rule that is in the minority in the United States—a rule known as “community property.” So, what do you need to know about “community property”...
What if your child custody exchanges do not go as planned?
The ink on your divorce decree may be dried, but the problems between you and your former spouse are bleeding over into your post-divorce life, especially if you are parents. Your divorce decree includes a parenting plan. Unless both parents in California share joint...
Can I get an alimony modification?
If you have a finalized divorce decree, you may wonder if your settlement is set in stone? What if you have major financial changes that alter your ability to pay alimony? With the costs of living in Torrance, California, it is completely understandable that many of...
The date of separation and its effect on your divorce
Deciding to divorce is likely one of the most difficult and painful choices you will ever have to make. As you start the divorce process, you will need to establish your date of separation. What is the date of separation? Your date of separation is the day you and...
How will debt be divided in my divorce?
In many California divorces, one of the main concerns is property division. That could include a marital home, bank accounts, investments, automobiles, items of sentimental value and more. In addition to property, they also need to consider how debts and liabilities...
When might a court deviate from the Child Support Guidelines?
Like other states, California has Child Support Guidelines that family law courts are supposed to follow. One reason for these Guidelines is to be sure that parents facing the same circumstances also pay the same amounts of child support for their children. Generally...
How contributions to acquiring property are assessed in a divorce
California divorces will have many issues to iron out. One of the most complicated can be property division. This may be perceived as boiling down to a marital home, automobiles, bank accounts and what the couple owned together. However, married couples generally...
Are all California divorces the same?
Before same-sex marriage was legalized in the United States, the fight for marriage equality was long and complicated in California. Today, California law officially treats opposite-sex and same-sex marriages and divorces the same. However, in practical terms, there...
What happens to my pension in a divorce?
Property division in a divorce can be complex, and you might be handling it while still processing the emotions involved with your divorce, making things more complicated. The financial ramifications of a divorce can be major, significantly affecting your overall...